The To-Do List, Feb. 25-March 3

Are a few strands of seasonal affective disorder still hanging around? The Little Rock Wind Symphony says it has the cure for what ails ya in the form of effervescent classical pieces. On the bill: “Slava! A Political Overture” by Leonard Bernstein and excerpts from “The Threepenny Opera” by Kurt Weill. There's even a Sousa piece. Also of note for the night — a bouncy tuba concerto by Christian Carichner, visiting professor of tuba at the University of Central Arkansas. JT

MARCY PLAYGROUND8 p.m., The Village. $10 adv., $15 d.o.s.

The mid-'90s were halcyon days for alternative singles thanks mostly to the one-hit wonders that made them: Primitive Radio Gods, Deep Blue Something, Dishwalla and, maybe most notably, Marcy Playground. Admit it. You liked “Sex and Candy.” Everyone did. It spent 15 weeks atop Billboard's Modern Rock chart. Fifteen friggin' weeks. Heck, I'll man up and say I still give it a spin occasionally. Anyway, the band's playing at The Village Thursday night and I'm not sure what else to say about it other than if you want to hear Marcy Playground grit their teeth and go through the motions with their big single maybe upwards to three or four times, go. Regardless, as far as touring '90s nostalgia acts go, you could do a lot worse. I'm looking at you, Tonic and Jimmy Ray. JT

FRIDAY 2/26

‘LANTERNS!'5:30 p.m., Wildwood Park for the Arts. $5-$10.

As if Wildwood wasn't picturesque enough to begin with, all weekend the park's celebrating the first full moon of the lunar year by turning the grounds into a nighttime Epcot. By navigating walking trails illuminated by fire pits and paper lanterns, visitors can stroll to Morocco for kabobs and fortunetellers, Venice for cognac at Carnivale, Shakespeare's England for ale and theater, and — this is really cool — the Moon for riddles and moon pies. A true outdoor spectacle and the picture of wholesome fun, “Lanterns!” is ripe for families, but fellas, if this isn't a perfect little happening for a date, I'll eat the keyboard I'm typing this on. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. They close at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 9 p.m. on Sunday. Food and drink will be for sale inside the park. JT

AMERICAN AQUARIUM / JONATHAN WILKINS AND THE REPARATIONS10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.

Last Chance Records head honcho Travis Hill is teaming with White Water Tavern for a new project. On Friday, Hill's arranged to have this double-bill recorded for release as live albums on his imprint. The headliner, Raleigh's American Aquarium, specializes in big gesture roots rock 'n' roll; think the Boss by way of Lucero. Hill hopes to put out American Aquarium “Live at White Water Tavern” this spring. Like we said in this space a few weeks back, Wilkins and the Reparations have lately emerged as one of the strongest local acts in town. You'll have to listen closely to catch Wilkins' folk-rock roots these days. A talking-blues-style phrasing here, a pithy political jab there — otherwise he and his mates, Matt Floyd and Will Boyd, are barroom rock at its best. Should make for a good live album down the road. At press time, Hill was unsure about a release date. LM.

SATURDAY 2/27

ACH DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT2 p.m., ACH East Campus Fitness Center. $5.

It's amazing how such a seemingly simple game can elicit feats of gymnastic virtuosity from the most unassuming of players. But watching an 8-inch-diameter rubber ball take a beeline towards your nose at 50 MPH can bring out the inner Olga Korbut in anyone. That said, launching said ball at an opponent is a stress reliever of the highest degree. This Saturday, medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon and The Buzz 103.7 FM host a dodgeball tournament to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital. With separate men's, women's and coed leagues, the dodgeball tournament should feature the steeliest, fastest and stealthiest. And hey, if you find yourself on the business end of a line drive, you'll literally be surrounded by doctors. Registration begins at 1 p.m. JT

BRAZILIAN MARDI GRAS7:30 p.m., Revolution. $10 adv., $15 d.o.s.

Carnaval's over in Brazil — a parade featuring a disturbingly true-to-form Michael Jackson impersonator won the coveted top prize of the festival — but it rolls on in Little Rock with “Cultura Brasileira 101,” a survey of Brazilian culture at its flashiest. At 8 p.m., there's live dance. If you like what you see, you can participate, for free at 8:30 p.m., in lessons and contests on bahia, capoeira (a fight dance) and samba. At 9 p.m., the Brasilcultura Carnaval Band plays batucada, a sub-style of samba built on quick, African-influenced rhythms. Later, there's samba and forro dance presentations and a “Carnaval Climax” that's bound to feature dancing women in sequined bikinis and giant feathered headpieces. LM

Led by guest conductor Andre Raphael Smith and featuring Grammy nominee Phillipe Quint, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra takes to Robinson for the fifth of its ongoing Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks series. The orchestra will perform Beethoven's overture to “King Stephan,” Brahms' “Symphony No. 1” and Sibelius' “Violin Concerto.” For a hint of what's to come, YouTube the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra's 1966 performance of the Sibelius piece. The ASO reprises the concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Same place and price. JT

SUNDAY 2/28

THE ROCKETBOYS7:30 p.m., Sticky Fingerz, $7.

For such a young band, The Rocketboys (formerly Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys) have wasted no time getting established. Before releasing their first full-length album in last year's “20,000 Ghosts,” the Austin-by-way-of-Abilene band dropped two EPs, two live DVDs, handily won over Paste Magazine and Stereogum — not to mention throngs of crowds — during SXSW and had a documentary made about them (“The Colder Nights of Texas”). And all without being signed. Ethereal, serious and with gravitas to spare, The Rocketboys do expansive West Texas shoegaze with a healthy twist of doe-eyed, lovelorn David Bazan influence thrown in for good measure. Having already played Little Rock a handful of times, the band enjoys a sizable Little Rock following. Come out, join the local choir and count the dropping jaws in the crowd. Randall Shreve, Plu and Bonnie Montgomery open. JT

TUESDAY 3/2

DAWES8:30 p.m., Sticky Fingerz, $10.

Recently I've noticed that Dawes elicits a contagious evangelism in a huge number of people with a certain, similarly sunny disposition. I'll admit that when the Dawes buzz reared its head, I dismissed it, ended up straggling behind the bandwagon and, honestly, was the worse for it. But enough of my devotional: Dawes are legit. They specialize in dreamy, country-dusted California pop that hangs somewhere between America, Dr. Dog and the late, great Beachwood Sparks. These guys are writing some of the most melodious songs around today. It's new-folk, it's dad rock, it's dreamy and if you're not careful, it's liable to send you dashing to your car for an impromptu road trip to whatever coast you're the farthest from. Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons open along with Jason Boesel. JT

WEDNESDAY 3/3

VETIVER9 p.m., Juanita's. $2.

What did Little Rock do to deserve such luck? The snow has melted, 60-degree temperatures are right around the corner, and we get to greet the springtime with a seasonal double header in Dawes and Vetiver. Fresh off its European tour supporting its fourth album, “Tight Knit,” Vetiver established itself years ago as the purveyor of 21st century folksiness with one foot in George Harrison's countryside and the other in Vashti Bunyan's shag carpeting. The band counts Bunyan, Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart as collaborators and especially vocal fans. You can't argue with that kind of pedigree. Know what else you can't argue with? The cover. Yeah. It's really two dollars. Go. JT